"It is not only your God of the third heaven who possesses the power of creation. I hath brought you forth since the beginning, since before you ever knew Lilith or Dantalion. You are correct, you're creation was for my own purpose. Vengeance. Not only to bring down the fall of Dantalion, but to prove to God himself my power reigns supreme in thy infernal realm."
I felt sick. All that I was, all that I am, everyone's attempt to shelter me from this moment, even Dantalion's decision, none of it could save me in the end. Dantalion didn't know about me, what I was, and what Satan had done. Yet he still comes for me.
My voice spoke in a numb, hopeless tone, "So Lilith was right, we are of the same immortal blood."
"Enough!" Satan drew his claws carefully tracing the contours of my face. "Do not speak, I will tell thee. Thee undead cannot evoke a demon of the Goetia, so I hath created you a living, breathing temptation from the desert when Lilith herself was condemned from the mortal dominion. She, who seduced both mortal and immortal men. She, whose temptation hath brought down the fall of Dantalion. It was I who welcomed her soul, promising her eternal life. I owneth Lilith, therefore, owneth any soul she embodies," his form disappeared through the crystal tomb.
Satan thinks he owns me, but I know Dantalion would never allow it. I know he will find a way. My soul, guarded by the winged demons presiding over Satan's fires, still resembled my physical appearance, yet any trace of emotion I still possessed might alert them. I tried to envision Dantalion in my thoughts. He would find me, and reclaim my soul to the body we once knew. My thoughts found his, guiding Dantalion beneath the Courtyard, underground, to the fires of the first heaven.
"Laurel, my army is assembled and we are approaching the Courtyard's borders. I promise I will reclaim thy soul."
Dantalion led them past the altar beneath the jagged rock, honoring my lifeless body chained to the altar in the Courtyard of the Undead. Among them was Rowan. Dantalion led one half of the army by the stone pillars forming the circle. The embers there still burned hot from the blaze the night before. Druitte led the other half behind the altar.
"Count Druitte, furnish thy army with as much spiritual weaponry you can empower. I shall use my powers of telepathy and fire. We shall descend the first heaven through the passages beneath the Courtyard," Dantalion commanded.